Magnetic sheet catcher



Sept. 30, 1930. J, G F|TZ GERALD Er AL E 1,777,139

MAGNETIC SHEET CATCHER Filed June 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SW1/Moz Patented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH G'. FITZGERALD AND LEWIS M. RIPPLE, 0F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MAGNETIC SHEET CATCHER Application Ied June 14,

This invention relates to a novel sheet catcher, which is particularly adapted to be used in connection with sheet galvanizing machines, but which may be used in connection with various other machines of a similar nature.

Heretofore, it has been customary, in conveying galvanized sheets from the finishing rolls of a galvanizing machine to a roller leveler, cooling rack, or other device, to

utilize endless chain conveyorsL and to deiiect the galvanized sheet as it emerges from between the finishing rolls of the galvanizing machine, onto the conveyor chains by means of a defiecting device, known in the art as a bull-tail? In order to prevent the sheets, and particularly heavy gauge sheets, from falling back into the galvanizing ot, and seriously impairing the operation of the galvanizing machine, a catcher provided With a pair of tongs usually standsl close beside the pot, grips the front end of the sheet with the tongs, and in this manner guides the sheets onto the conveyor chains.

This method of guiding the sheets onto the conveyor chains presents several disadvantages. It is difficult to secure catchers, as laborers who perform this work are called, to work around galvanizing machines and pots, owing to the almost unendurable heat vand the fumes arising from'the pot, and as a result, the labor turnover for this type of work is very large. Moreover, the extreme l5 heat and fumes retard the efficiency of the catcher to such an extent, that he frequently fails to get a good grip with his tongs, and as a consequence, the sheet falls back into the galvanizing pot. Such occurrences seri- .G ously impair the efficient operation of the galvanizing machine, and entail a considerable loss of time.v

In cases, where a heat treating furnace for the purpose of making dull-coated 5 sheets, such as is shown for example in the patent to Herman, No. 1,580,891,` is employed in conjunction with the galvanizing machine, the additional heat of such a furnace makes the task of the catcher even more 0 diicult; and where the space between the 1928. Serial No. 285,307.

finishing rolls of the galvanizing machine and the mouth of such heat treating furnace is relatively small, the catcher must release his grip with the tongs, and grip the sheet at another point, thus affording an additional opportunity for the sheet to fall back into the pot.

It is a primary object of the present invention to eliminate the human catcher or tong operator, and provide in his stead, an efficient, unfailing, electro-magnetic sheet catcher, which will effectively guide the galvanized sheets onto the conveyor chains, and entirely obviate the possibility of the sheet falling back into the galvanizing pot, as wellr as the other aforementioned disadvantages.

A,Another object of the invention is the provision of an electro-magnetic sheet catcher, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to operate, and which occupies only such space about the galvanizing pot, as would be otherwise wasted.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the course of the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sheet catcher, showing the position which. it occupies with relation to the finishing rolls of the galvanizing machine, and the mouth of a heat treating furnace, used in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 2 is across-section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a front elevation of the sheet catcher;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the collector rings and brushes, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the magnet drum, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a Wiring diagram ofthe magnet coils.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus includes a galvanizing pot 1, provided with a Hange 2 at its upper end, which rests upon the upper edge of a Wall 3. A metallic plate 4, also resting upon the upper edge of the wall 3, completely surrounds the flange 2.

A galvanizing machine 5 is suitably suspended in the pot 1, and includes the usual sheet exit guides 6, and finishing rolls 7. A sheet deflecting device 8, commonly known as a bull-tail, is secured to the galvanizing machine in proximity to the finishing rolls, as is shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the plate 4, at opposite sides of the galvanizing pot, are yoke bearings 9, and mounted for rotation in these bearings is a conveyor shaft 10, which is prevented from moving longitudinally, `by means of collars 11, secured thereto near its ends, and bearing against the `yoke bearings The shaft is adapted to be driven in any suitable manner through the intermediary of a drive sprocket 12, which is keyed to the shaft. Conveyor sprockets 13 are keyed to the shaft 10, intermediate its ends, and are adapted to drive endless conveyor chains 14, which may convey the galvanized sheets directly to a roller leveler or cooling rack, or through a heat treating furnace 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Mounted on the shaft 10, intermediate the sprockets 13, is a magnet drum, which conslsts of spaced spiders 16, magnet cores 17, magnet coil windings 18, and a,cas ing 19 of a diamagnetic metal, such as copper, the casing also serving to prevent the access o dirt, acid fumes, and the like, into the interior of the drum. The various parts of the drum are secured together as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the spiders 16 being keyed to the shaft 10, so that the drum as a whole rotates with the shaft.

The coil windings 18 are preferably connected together in series, as shown in Fig. 6, but may be connected in any other desired manner.

The terminals 20 and 21 of the coil windings are respectively soldered or otherwise A permanently secured to the collector rings 22 and 23, which are in turn mounted on a sleeve 24` keyed to the shaft 10. The collector rings are suitably insulated from each other and from the sleeve 24, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Current is supplied to the collector rings 22 and 23 by means of brushes 25, mounted on, and insulated from, a spring bracket 26, which is in turn secured to one of the yoke bearings 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The operation of the above described apparatus 1s as follows:

The galvanized sheet, as it emerges from` between thenishin rolls 7 of the galvan- 1z1ng machine, is deected toward the'magnet drum by the bull-tail 8, to a'point where it is brought under the influence of the magnetic field of the magnet drum. Successive portions of the sheet are thereafter held in positive contact with the magnet drum until the entire sheet has passed onto the conveyor chains 14. The action of the magnet drum in holding the sheet until it has passed entirely onto the conveyor chains eliminates any possibility of the sheet falling back into the galvanizing pot, and at the same time insures the production of a galvanized sheet which is entirely devoid of such surface ilnperfections as tong marks and the like.

,i Having described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In combination, a galvanizing pot, a galvanizing machine mounted in said pot and provided with finishing rolls, a shaft mounted for rotary movement adjacent said finishing rolls and a cylindrical magnetic drum mounted on said shaft.

2. In combination, a galvanizing pot, a galvanizing machine mounted in said pot and provided with finishing rolls, a shaft mounted for rotary movement adjacent said -iinishing rolls, a cylindrical magnetic drum mounted on said shaft and means for deflecting galvanized sheets towards the drum.

3. In combination, a galvanizing pot, a galvanizing machine mounted in said pot and provided with finishing rolls, a shaft mounted for rotary movement adjacent said finishing rolls, drive sprockets on said shaft, conveyor means driven by said sprockets and a cylindrical magnetic drum mounted on said shaft between the sprockets and adapted to assist the movement of the galvanized sheets from said finishing rolls to the conveyor means.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, in which the conveyor means comprises endless chains.

In testimony whereof We a-ix our signatures.

JOSEPH G. FITZGERALD.' LEWIS M. RIPPLE. 

